TYPES OF AGNI
Types of Agnis
1. Agni is innumerable because of its presence in each and every dhatu paramanu (cell) of the body. But,
enumeration of the number of Agnis varies in various classical Ayurvedic texts, as shown below
2. Charaka has mentioned about 13 Agnis. Jatharagni – 1, Bhutagni – 5, Dhatvagni – 7 (Ch.Chi.15/38).[13]
3. According to Acharya Sushruta, five types of Agnis are illustrated, viz. Pachakagni, Ranjakagni,
Alochakagni, Sadhakagni and Bhrajakagni. However, there is an indirect reference of five Bhutagnis underlying in the
brief description made to the transformation of food stuff. (Sh.Su.21/10.)[14]
4. Vagbhata has described different types Agni, viz. – Bhutagnis – 5,– Dhatvagnis – 7, –Dhoshagni – 3 and–
Malagni – 3.
5. Sharangadhara has recognized five pittas only (Pachak, Bhrajak, Ranjak, Alochaka and Sadhak)
(Sha.Sa.Pu.Kh.-5/32).[15]
6. Bhavamishra has followed Acharya Charaka and Vagbhata (Bh.Pu.Kh.-3/169,180).[16]
Agni has been divided into 13 types according to the function and site of
action.
These are:
Jatharagni – one Agni present in the stomach and duodenum.
Bhutagni – five Agni from five basic elements.
Dhatwagni – seven Agni present, one in each of the seven dhatus.
Accordingly, they are classified into three groups, namely Jatharagni, Bhutagni and Dhatvagni.
JATHARAGNI
· Jatharagni is the Agni or bioenergy present in the Jathara (stomach and duodenum). According to Ashtanga
Hridaya, Jatharagni, the seat is grahani (duodenum), so called because it withholds the food for a certain time
inside the Amasaya (stomach) to facilitate digestion. In the opinion of Dhanvantari, it is the Kala known as
“Pittadhara,” situated at the entrance of the Pakvashaya (intestine) and acting as a bolt to the door of the
pathway/channel of food. It is responsible for the duration of life, health, valour, ojas (essence of the dhatus),
strength of all the bhutagni and dhatvagni. The strength of the grahani is from Agni itself, and the strength of
Agni is from grahani. When the Agni undergoes vitiation, grahani also gets vitiated and produces diseases
(As.Hr.Sha.3/50-54).[17]
· Jatharagni is considered to be the most important because each and every nutrient that one ingests first
comes to the Jathara and is subjected to the action of Jatharagni. Jatharagni digests the food materials that
consist of the five basic elements and transforms it for utilization by the respective Dhatus paramanus
(tissues).
· Jatharagni is also responsible for separation of the food material into the essence portion (prasad) and
the waste products (kitta) in our body (As.Hr.Su-12/8).[18]
· Jatharagni is directly related to Dhatvagni or bioenergy in the cells and their metabolic processes, with
ultimate tissue metabolism or Dhatu-Paka process. All the Dhatvagni depend on the normal, healthy state of
Jatharagni. If the Jatharagni is hyperactive (Tikshna) or hypoactive (Manda), it will cause an excessive or retarded
action of the Dhatvagni. This disturbed action ultimately leads to various disorders. Jatharagni is the main
important Agni that controls the function of all other 12 Agnis All the Agnis are totally dependent on the status
of Jatharagni (Cha. Chi. 15/39-40).[19]
· Jatharagni is also classified into four categories according to its performance of digestion in the human
being (Cha. Chi. 15/51),[20] namely Vishamagni, Tikshanagni, Mandagni and Samagni.
a)
Samagni: The Samagni digests and assimilates food properly at the proper time. This thus increases the quality of
the Dhatus
(supportive tissues of the body). Persons having Samagni are always hale and healthy.
b)
Vishamagni: This type of Agni changes between digesting food quickly and slowly. When this Agni is affected by the
Vata Dosha, it creates different types of udargata roga.
c)
Tikshnagni: Tikshnagni means very quick/very sharp/very fast. Tikshnagni is a state of very quick digestion of food,
regardless of the type of food. Acharya Shushrut states that when the power of digestion is increased from normal to
above normal, food digests very quickly and produces hunger or the desire for food. When food is digested, the
throat, the mouth cavity and the lips become dry with a burning sensation. This condition is known as “Bhasmak Roga”
according to Ayurveda.
d)
Mandagni: “Mandha” means slow. The meaning of the Mandagni is slow digestive power or digestive capacity. Those who
are having Mandagni eat very little and are unable to digest the smallest amount of food. Dhanvantri says that Agni
digests the least amount of food in the greatest amount of
time. Bhutagni
· Bhutagni is the one that is present in a basic element (Bhutas). There are five Agnis in each of the five basic
elements, namely – Parthiva (earth), Apya (water), Tejas (Agni), Vayavya (vayu) and Nabhasa (akash).
· Each and every cell in our body is composed of the five mahabhutas or five basic elements. Naturally, each
cell (dhatu paramanu) consists of these five Bhutagni also. All the nutrients in this world that we eat also consist
of the same five basic elements with their respective Agni or bioenergies. Thus, they are completely similar with
respect to the five basic elements with their Bhutagni in our body cells as well in all the outside nutrient, that
we ingest for the nutrition of our body. Acharya Charak has mentioned that the five Bhutagni digest their own part
of the element present in the food materials. After the digestion of food by the Bhutagni, digested materials
containing the elements and qualities similar to each bhutas nourish their own specific bhautika elements of the
body (Cha. Chi. 15/13, 14).[21] These Bhutagnis act after the Jatharagni present in the stomach and duodenum, acting
on the food and causing their disintegration. In the modern physiological perspective, the action of Jatharagni can
be equated with the digestion in the stomach and duodenum, and the action of the Bhutagni can be equated with the
conversion of digested materials in the liver.
Dhatvagni
· All the seven Dhatus (seven element tissues of the body) contain their own Agni to metabolize the nutrient
materials supplied to them through their own Srotas.
· Rasagni present in the Rasa Dhatu.
· Raktagni present in the Rakta Dhatu.
· Mamsagni present in the Mamsa Dhatu.
· Medagni present in the Meda Dhatu.
· Asthyagni present in the Asthi Dhatu.
· Majjagni present in the Majja Dhatu.
· Shukragni present in the Shukra Dhatu.
Each Dhatvagni or the bioenergy present in each Dhatu synthesizes and transforms the essential Rasa Dhatu required
for that particular Dhatu or cell from the basic nutrients present in the AnnaRasa or essence of the diet that we
consume. Each Dhatvagni has got a speciality to synthesize and transform the constituents suitable to its particular
Dhatu. This action is a sort of selective action. Acharya Charaka has mentioned the fact that that the seven dhatus
that are a support of the body contain their own Agni, and by their own Agni they digest and transform the materials
supplied to them to make the substances alike to them for assimilation and nourishment (Cha. Su. 28/15).[22]
